A decisive step against Islamic Jihad! Centre bans PFI and its affiliates for five years citing 'terror links

New Delhi, September 28: Tightening the noose around radical Islamist groups for their anti-national activities, the Central government banned the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associated affiliated fronts for five years.

 

As per the Ministry, the decision was taken based on the report of the investigating agencies. The PFI and its affiliate organizations have been declared an "unlawful association" under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the government said.

 

 

In addition to this, PFI's associate organizations - Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala - were also banned.

 

This comes after over 150 persons associated with the PFI were arrested in a massive crackdown across the country. As per the reports, as many as 150 persons associated with the PFI were arrested in a massive crackdown across the country.

 

Issuing the notification regarding this order, the MHA said that during the investigation, it was established that PFI created the associates or affiliates or fronts with an objective to enhance its reach “among different sections of the society such as youth, students, women, Imams, lawyers or weaker sections of the society with the sole objective of expanding its membership, influence and fundraising capacity”.

 

It was further mentioned that these organisations used their mass outreach and fundraising capacities to strengthen their capabilities for unlawful activities. It added, “The PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts operate openly as a socio-economic, educational and political organisation, but they have been pursuing a secret agenda to radicalise a particular section of the society working towards undermining the concept of democracy and show sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority and constitutional set up of the country.”

 

 

 

Furthermore, PFI and its associates were found to be “indulging in unlawful activities which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty, and security of the country and have the potential of disturbing public peace and communal harmony of the country and supporting militancy in the country”.

 

 

 

The notification clearly established a link between PFI and the banned Islamist organisation Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). It further added that PFI is also linked to with Jamat-ul-Mujahideen

Bangladesh (JMB), is also a banned organisation. In several instances, PFI was found to be connected to global terrorist groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). It was pointed out that PFI members have joined international terrorist organisations.

 

GoI added that some of these cadres were killed in conflicts, and some were arrested by State Police and Central Agencies. The notification mentions that the criminal activities and brutal murders have been carried out by PFI cadres with the sole objective of "disturbing public peace and tranquility and creating a reign of terror in the public mind".